Bush Hall remains a fine place to see any show. The room itself hints at a past elegance that has slightly slipped and renders it ideal for the bruised, sprawling vignettes of Micah P. Hinson. Openers Absentee do themselves proud with a set has echoes of The National and Favourite Sons but with a Pulpish bounce. Hinson himself is a pleasure to behold.

It’s a radically different experience to any of his albums, the orchestral grandeur stripped out and replaced by a basic guitar-bass-drums set-up. This leaves Hinson relying almost entirely on his gravel tones to carry him through, alternating between a hushed rumble and a grating howl, both similarly effective. ‘When We Embrace’, lead single from his new record, is a beautiful moment, showcasing how affecting a simple two minute love song can be.

Through the night, Hinson even proves great entertainment between songs. A more self-indulgent musician would have induced a collective cringe when talking about how happy their wife has made them but Hinson’s enthused endorsement of the love of a good woman is nothing less than heartfelt and touching, as too is his rendition of John Denver’s ‘This Old Guitar’, dedicated to the lucky lady.

Mark Grassick